A vape shop worker was left shaken and dazed, after battling a gang of teenagers as they forced their way into his shop.

The group wearing hoods and dark clothing could be seen gathering outside before attempting to force their way into TJ's E-cigarette shop in Strood High Street.

CCTV footage shows a staff member rushing to the door in an effort to stop the attackers gaining entry to the shop, which has been targeted previously.

While he managed to stop most of the gang, one teenager can be seen to slip into the shop and then steal items, while others can be seen assaulting the staff member as he holds them back.

Ellie Warwick, general manager for TJ's, which owns 15 shops around Kent, said the staff member is recovering after the attack on Saturday afternoon, but has been left shaken.

She called on police to do more to investigate the incident, which followed other similar instances in Strood.

"He's ok now but you can see he took a couple of big blows to the back of the head," she said.

"Immediately after the attack he felt sick and dizzy. When I spoke to him he said his whole body felt smashed up. I think they were kicking him when he was at the door as well.

"The police came down and took his details and that was it. They said 'are you prepared to go to court?' He said yes, and they said ok and left.

"I've contacted police since and said we've got CCTV footage but haven't heard back.

"I'm still waiting for them to call me."

She said the company had called police a number of times over the last 12 months to report youths, who she said had been harassing and assaulting people in area – but that the gang had simply ignored a restraining order due to a lack of police presence.

She added: "Kent Police need to have more of an active presence in the local areas as this sort of behaviour is just being treated as the norm and pretty soon staff in other stores will not be turning up to work due to this ongoing behaviour.

"We know they've been causing grief and havoc over the last 12 months in Strood."

Earlier in the year, the same member of staff involved in Saturday's incident had been present during another attack, and she said he had been psychologically affected by the repeat incidents.

"He stopped them coming in by locking the door, but they kicked the door in," she said.

"He doesn't want to come to work, and he feels really unsafe.

"He'll come to work to keep face up because he doesn't want to let them know they've won.

"He's constantly on edge. We're now having to get extra members of staff and security alarms, all for a vape shop."

Ellie said they had lost around £200 worth of items in the robberies, and that three other TJ's outlets had been broken into in the last year.

She believes vape shops have become targets due to the popularity of disposable vapes, which she estimated made up 80% of the vape market, and believed the rise in popularity was partly due to TikTok trends involving certain brands.

"I think they need to be banned," she added.

"But if you don't sell them you don't make any money."

Kent Police have been approached for further information.

A statement from police said: "Kent Police received a report at 3.21pm on Saturday December 10 to a report of an assault inside a premises in Strood High Street where a group of young people were reported to have entered a shop before a person inside was assaulted. Three electronic cigarettes were also reported to have been stolen.

"Officers arrived at 3.26pm and spoke to those inside. The victim declined immediate medical treatment.

"Enquiries are ongoing.

"Officers are aware of concerns from local businesses in relation to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area and officers are continuing to make enquiries to identify those responsible."